The below letter was forwarded here by Mr. Robert Trent. We are grateful for him sharing with us.

19 February 2016

Dear members of the Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee,

I write to express my professional concerns regarding Senate Bill 320, which I understand has passed the Georgia Senate and is now being considered in your committee.

I spent 25 years as an immigration agent actively involved in enforcing our federal immigration laws and last served as the Assistant Director, Enforcement Training, U.S. Immigration Officer Academy, which was located at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Glynco, Georgia. In addition, I have also served as a uniformed municipal police officer.

I have read through the language of SB 320 and am quite confused about its purpose. As I understand the explanation on the Department of Driver Services website, when visiting our state, legally admitted, non-resident aliens can already legally drive in Georgia using their home nation’s drivers license if accompanied by a translation into English, if needed.

Concerning language in SB 320 aimed at enforcement, as a practical matter I don’t see how a local or state government could expect a local police officer to be competent in determining if an immigration document has been altered, photo substituted, page altered, date altered etc. or why we would add that verification burden to their already demanding and dangerous mission.

Well-trained CBP and ICE officers can and do miss counterfeit visas and altered passports. How could we expect street cops to perform this forensic procedure? Why are we trying to change this part of the Georgia code?

In addition, requiring local law enforcement officers to become knowledgeable on the visa waiver program and other complex immigration details does not appear to be realistic goal. I fear that one day busy and dedicated officers may avoid interviewing or dealing with aliens – who could represent a possible terror threat – in an effort to avoid the complicated and burdensome new responsibility SB 320 would put on them. I have already witnessed Georgia State troopers waving motorists through roadblocks here in the Brunswick area when they hear a foreign-sounding accent. From my own experience, when laws become to convolute for a police officer to navigate, they will generally avoid enforcement action.

We all desire a more prosperous Georgia, but there should be limits to our risks in that mission. I hope the goal of this legislation is not to increase the security of Georgia or our mutual safety, as I am of the educated opinion that it may have the opposite effect.

I urge you to discard SB 320.

Thank you

Robert Trent
Senior Special Agent (Retired)
U.S. Immigration Service
(912) ***- ****

Brunswick, Georgia 31523